Our
History.In
September 1993, ProGay Philippines was born when several progressive
gay student activists gathered as a study group that tried to develop
a concept of gay Filipinosí roles in the movement for national and social
liberation.

ProGay
started in several Manila schools and built contacts in other parts
of the country. Progay led the first Gay March in Asia on June 26, 1994,
timed with the 25th Stonewall anniversary, to highlight the larger social
issues.

In
August 1994, ProGay Philippines hit the Catholic hierarchy and the Ramos
government for their respective inept positions on gender, population
and development during the United Nations' Conference on Population
and Development.

In
January 1997, ProGay joined the broader people's protest against the
national ID system, It also led the criticism of the military ban on
gays and filed a discrimination suit against a bar which refused entry
to a cross-dressing gay patron.

Gay
menís understanding of their role in our society.
Gays in the Philippine society suffer the same poverty and exploitation
like other sectors of society. This prevents the full human potentials
of the Filipino gays. Individual gays are generally refused recruitment
and reemployment, promotions, pay raises and benefits; or are given unattractive
assignments.

Men
who are perceived to be homosexual may be treated as outcasts from certain
official social functions. As a community, gays are parts of families torn
apart by an unfair global economy. Joblessness and landlessness force their
families to leave for the cities and other countries, and they find low-paying
menial jobs if available.

Gay
liberation: Our Perspective. ProGay-Philippines
believes that gay liberation involves not just gay men but also all
other people of different sexual orientations. Like other oppressed
and exploited people, we struggle for social equality.

We
define the struggle for gay liberation as a part of the struggle of the
Filipino people for national freedom, and at the same time, this has a
distinct concern for the concrete demands of Filipino gay men.

What
are our specific needs and concerns? We
advocate the full recognition of economic, social and political rights
of all sexual minorities to freedom from all forms of sexual discrimination
in family, the community, the government, church and mass media.

Respect,
acceptance and support from our families

Stop
false representation of gays in church, mass media and the academe

We
therefore believe that gays, as a special interest group, have the responsibility
to work for the realization of these goals.

What
we can do? ProGay Philippines believes
in arousing, organizing and mobilizing gay men in their broadest numbers
in localites where they converge in significant numbers. ProGay Philippines
will lead concerted mass actions that are gay-related and will work
with national movements for broader issues.

ProGay
Philippines will conduct campaigns among different groups to educate
them and get their support for gay issues.

ProGay
Philippines wants to strengthen linkages with local gay groups and international
solidarity with gay movements, feminists and other gay-friendly groups
and individuals via exchanges, visits, communications and conferences.

ProGay
Philippines can provide venues for counseling services, legal services
in cases of workplace discrimination and worthwhile social activities.

Who
can join Pro-Gay? Many people know gays
as parlor workers or entertainers. But we are everywhere. We are also found
in offices and factories, schools, hospitals, and service-oriented establishments.
We are laborers and professionals, students and overseas contract workers,
businessmen and church leaders. And we need to get organized.